7 Mistakes that 7 String Guitarists Make

You would think that having that extra string would give you more options, but it can actually be restricting you from becoming a better guitarist.

In this video, I'm giving you 7 mistakes that guitarists tend to make when they start playing a 7 string.

The cool thing is, I also show you how to fix those mistakes!

Oh, and stay tuned till the end...I share a personal struggle I've been going through, and maybe you can help!

Here are the video contents:

0:00 - 1:07 - Intro to this cool video
1:08 - 2:31 - Mistake 1
2:32 - 4:11 - Mistake 2
4:12 - 5:46 - Mistake 3
5:47 - 7:59 - Mistake 4
8:00 - 10:09 - Mistake 5
10:10 - 12:38 - Mistake 6
12:39 - 15:30 - Mistake 7
15:31 - 17:31 - Am I Really Gonna Do This?

Keep it Metal,
Jason

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[trevorharyett]

I enjoy that most of these mistakes are actually based on the same principle:

Don't get stuck playing only on the low string

You paid for the whole fretboard. Use the whole fretboard

[opethmike]

I feel like this dude gives good hugs.

[antonharmacinski]

Mistake 5 can apply to playing in general. I had a friend who said that he couldn't solo, but would play these video game scores with these elaborate runs in them. I told him, Dude you're playing little leads all of the time, you just don't realize it. He has since stretched out and is a better player overall just from simply trying. Like you said, he knew how to play guitar, he just didn't see connection until I pointed it out.

[Catsareamazing]

I learned guitar on a 6 string, I fulfilled my desire for low notes on the bass. I never considered a 7 string, but you've shown me some pitfalls that would come with one. Thanks for posting.

[jaketozer]

i love 7 string guitars... especially because i can change the note of the bottom string and still have an e standard guitar when ever i need it.. just makes things easier to visualise for me.. also i got a esp mh-1007et because of you haha... love the vids bro!

[quinningram]

I would hate to see you get rid of your 7 string guitar. I've learned so much about playing metal guitar from watching your channel and listening to your music. I just ordered my first 7 string and you are the reason for me getting a 7 string because of your input about playing a 7 string and every once in awhile o would love to get lessons from you about playing a 7 string. I love your sound and tone playing in standard tuning but I want to expand my sound by adding the 7th string. I've gotten more out of your lessons than any other YouTube . It may be selfish of me but your help has made a better musician and I look to you when I get stuck in my playing and would love more 7 string content when my 7 strings arrives

[davu]

"Don't Djent" FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SAID IT (I discovered this video 3 years after the upload)

[izzyel]

Jason, You are doing your viewers & up and coming performers a 'great' service by digging deep into the psychology of what makes all of this stuff work, like you do. Love it! 
Young musicians can save a TON of time and hard knocks watching your vids 'til the end! 🤘🤘

[raventheis]

This is so true. I spent about four years with my 7 string. I basically tried to model my sound after KoRn. Recently I got really into a lot of European Power Metal bands. It feels like re learning the guitar I basically forgot how to play those higher notes. My new Jackson 6 string feels so good in my hands. I play in E standard which is crazy for me I always used to play real low tunings. You can make standard sound super heavy. I bet these mistakes are super common.

[drummerjoey]

I have a Jackson 7 string and I love it. It’s fun to play and experiment with. I work on my scales first then work around all over the fret board to make up new stuff. Great video man, enjoyed the content.

[jorje]

I'm going to get a tuba now. THANKS!

[truthseeker]

All good points... especially about the my exact sentiments!!... and yes, I for one am very engaged .... love and appreciate all the videos and tips!

[iduncanw]

Great video Jason, you looked like you really enjoyed making it and I certainly enjoyed watching it (to the end 🤘).

Definitely keen to try a 7 string but I've also been experimenting with different plugins as well as inverted power chords which I'm pretty sure you recently covered in another video about sounding heavy. This is probably the 5th video on 7 strings I've watched today and getting some great tips.

If I do get a 7 string, I might have to get a 5 string bass as well, like yourself, to compensate.

🤘🤘🤘

[peznando]

So many good things are thought here. Thank you so much Yo really ROCK!!!!🤟🤟

[billybeers]

Ma dude this video was great thanks for sharing your knowledge 🤘😎 peace!!!

[MichaelSheaAudio]

My 7 string mistake was getting a 7 string... instead of an 8 string!
I had a 7 string, it was a horrific guitar and ended up returning it to the manufacturer for a refund. While looking for a replacement, I thought, why not just go all the way and get an 8 string? Like the 7 string is a weird middle ground for me, since I listen to bands that play 8 string guitars. So I got one and it was a much better experience. It's a fun instrument. Right away I started writing an album, and that album is actually coming out soon! I've released the first single a few weeks ago, and the second single is coming out in a matter of minutes as it's close to 12 AM on Thursday night. I take a pretty melodic route with my music, so even though I'm tuned to DGDGCFAD, I mostly play it like a 7 string and the 8th string is more for accents. There are a bunch of really nice guitar solos and melodies while still being a heavy as fuck deathcore album. I had new humbuckers put in with coil splits and played on the single coils most of the time, it just sounds cooler in such a low tuning.

I agree that you shouldn't djent endlessly, it does need to be broken up and the song needs to move somewhere else so that the next time you come back to your lowest notes, it has more impact. It also just helps to not bore the listener by playing what sounds like the same riff at the same tempo with the same drum beat for 4 minutes. Some bands are more guilty of this than others.
I don't agree that going lower than standard 7 string tuning should be avoided, otherwise get a bass. Even in extremely low tunings, the bass still needs to be there in a mix for it to sound full, the mixing is just a bit different. I like low tunings, but I also play in E standard on my 6 strings. I like really heavy music, but I also really enjoy denpa J-Pop. We all have our quirks.

I don't think it's a bad thing to embrace new ideas and sounds, but if you're happy just playing 6 string guitars then that's sick too. I mostly play my 6 strings, it's what I'm most comfortable on. But that 8 string is something else. It's just a whole different animal.

[Nicodareus]

i like half step down tuning to try to learn in flames and nevermore stuff 🤘 low b goes > a# etc.

[skullfacemorte]

Chug Norris .. “I’m gonna chug so hard ..
Your gonna beg me for a sweep”.

[Vayth]

Hey Jason,
I agree on almost every thing that you mentioned, except for the down tuning
and here is why, I played all my 6-string guitars in D standard, now to be able to play
all those songs I learned so far, on my 7 string, I had to tune it down one whole step!
80% of the time, I play along to Paradise Lost songs, so I can't do that without
tuning down.
If you know how to setup the guitar properly, after tuning it down, it won't sound muddy,
at least not by tuning it down just one step!
Getting a 7-string was just to play it like my 6-string guitars and to have more tonal range,
not to change my playing style, but to expand it.
Tuning down a 7-string guitar is the same as if you tune down a 6-string guitar.
My RG 7.string has a 25.5 scale length, that's the same as my 6-string RGs have.
Of course, you have to compensate the loss of tension by using thicker strings, file the nut slots,
adjust string height, then adjust the truss rod and set up the intonation,
also adjust pickup height and then you are good to go!

[davestoys]

I’m so guilty of the low note chugging, that low f# ❤️❤️❤️❤️ but I’ve been trying to and with your help I’m expanding my range